Control system using near-field communication

ABSTRACT

A system includes a near-field communication device configured to transmit a radio frequency control signal in a near-field regime and an interface. The interface includes a near-field communication circuit configured to receive the RF control signal. The interface further includes a pulse width modulation signal generation circuit configured to generate a pulse width modulation signal according to the radio frequency control signal. The system further includes an electrically-controllable equipment configured to be controlled by the pulse width modulation signal.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/277,698 which claims priority to French Patent Application No.FR18/51737, filed on Feb. 27, 2018, and to U.S. patent application Ser.No. 16/277,678 which claims priority to French Patent Application NoF18/51738, filed on Feb. 27, 2018, both of which are incorporated hereinby reference in their entirety.

This application claims the priority benefit of French PatentApplication No. FR18/51735, filed on Feb. 27, 2018, the content of whichis hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety to the maximumextent allowable by law.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to electronic circuits and,more specifically, to electromagnetic transponders or electronic tagsusing the RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology. The presentdisclosure more particularly applies to the control of equipment from anelectronic tag.

BACKGROUND

Communication systems comprising electromagnetic transponders are moreand more frequent, particularly since the development of near-fieldcommunication (NFC) technologies, equipping, in particular, cell phones.

Such systems use a radio frequency electromagnetic field emitted by adevice (terminal or reader) to communicate with another device (card ortag). An NFC device comprises a resonant circuit formed of one or aplurality of antennas (inductive elements) and of one or a plurality ofcapacitive elements for detecting an electromagnetic field. The voltagerecovered across the resonant circuit is processed by electroniccircuits of the device or transponder to extract the power necessary toits operation, decode data transmitted via a modulation of theelectromagnetic field, transmit data in retromodulation, etc.

In applications targeted by the present disclosure, an electronic tag isintended to detect control or configuration data intended for equipmenthaving this tag coupled thereto. Such data should thus be converted intosignals interpretable by the equipment (the application) to becontrolled.

SUMMARY

In accordance with an embodiment, a system includes a near-fieldcommunication device configured to transmit a radio frequency controlsignal in a near-field regime and an interface. The interface includes anear-field communication circuit configured to receive the RF controlsignal. The interface further includes a pulse width modulation signalgeneration circuit configured to generate a pulse width modulationsignal according to the radio frequency control signal. The systemfurther includes an electrically-controllable equipment configured to becontrolled by the pulse width modulation signal.

In accordance with another embodiment, a method of controllingelectrical equipment includes receiving, by a near-field communicationcircuit, a radio frequency control signal transmitted in a near-fieldregime, generating, by a pulse width modulation signal generationcircuit, a pulse width modulation signal according to the radiofrequency control signal, and controlling an electrically-controllableequipment using the pulse width modulation signal.

In accordance with still another embodiment, an integrated circuit chipincludes a near-field communication circuit, a pulse width modulationsignal generation circuit, and an output terminal. The near-fieldcommunication circuit is configured to receive a radio frequency controlsignal transmitted in a near-field regime. The pulse width modulationsignal generation circuit is implemented using wired logic and iscoupled to the near-field communication circuit. The pulse widthmodulation signal generation circuit is configured to generate a pulsewidth modulation signal according to the radio frequency control signal.The output terminal is coupled to the pulse width modulation signalgeneration circuit and configured to output the pulse width modulationsignal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a simplified block diagram of an example system inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a simplified block diagram of an example interfacecircuit and surrounding environment in accordance with an embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a block diagram of an example interfacecircuit in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 schematically and functionally illustrates power sources ofdifferent components of an interface circuit in accordance with anembodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E, and 5F schematically illustrate example timingdiagrams of operating situations of the interface circuit in accordancewith an embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D, 6E, 6F, and 6G schematically illustrate exampletiming diagrams of other operating situations of the interface circuitin accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 7A and 7B schematically illustrate timing diagrams of a noisereduction method in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C schematically illustrate timing diagrams of anotherimplementation of a noise reduction method in accordance with anembodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 9A and 9B schematically illustrate timing diagrams of stillanother implementation of a noise reduction method in accordance with anembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 schematically illustrates a block diagram of a systemimplementing all or part of the described embodiments;

FIG. 10A illustrates a variation of the system of FIG. 10;

FIG. 11 schematically illustrates a block diagram of another systemimplementing all or part of the described embodiments;

FIG. 12 schematically illustrates a block diagram of still anothersystem implementing all or part of the described embodiments; and

FIG. 13 schematically illustrates a block diagram yet another systemimplementing all or part of the described embodiments.

The foregoing and other features and advantages will be discussed indetail in the following non-limiting description of specific embodimentsin connection with the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

The same elements have been designated with the same reference numeralsin the different drawings.

For clarity, only those steps and elements which are useful to theunderstanding of the embodiments which will be described have been shownand will be detailed. In particular, the generation of the radiofrequency signals and the interpretation thereof have not been detailed,the described embodiments being compatible with usual techniques ofgeneration and interpretation of these signals. Further, theinterpretation of the control signals by the equipment has not beendetailed either, the described embodiments here again being compatiblewith usual techniques.

Throughout the present disclosure, the term “connected” is used todesignate a direct electrical connection between circuit elements,whereas the term “coupled” is used to designate an electrical connectionbetween circuit elements that may be direct, or may be via one or moreintermediate elements.

The terms “approximately”, “about”, and “in the order of” are usedherein to designate a tolerance of plus or minus 10%, preferably of plusor minus 5%, of the value in question.

An embodiment overcomes all or part of the disadvantages of knowntechniques for controlling equipment based on data received bynear-field communication.

An embodiment provides a solution more particularly adapted to a systemwhere the near-field communication is used to modify a configuration ora parameterizing of the equipment.

An embodiment provides an interface integrated circuit between anear-field communication environment and an equipment control wireenvironment.

Thus, an embodiment provides a system comprising: anelectrically-controlled power variation equipment; a first unit capableof receiving a power reference by near-field radio frequencycommunication; a second unit for generating at least one electric signalin pulse width modulation (PWM).

According to an embodiment, the pulse width modulation conditions thepower of the device.

According to an embodiment, the equipment is digitally controlled.

According to an embodiment, the equipment is analogically controlled.

According to an embodiment, the equipment is an illumination circuit.

According to an embodiment, the equipment is a DC motor.

According to an embodiment, the first unit and the second unit form partof a same circuit, further comprising a non-volatile memory containingat least digital words for configuring the PWM signal(s), and a thirdunit, different from the second unit, for assigning the memory to thefirst unit or to the second unit.

According to an embodiment, the first unit has access to the memory inwrite and in read mode, the second unit having access to the memory inread mode only.

According to an embodiment, the second unit is in wired logic.

According to an embodiment, the third unit is in wired logic.

According to an embodiment, the generation of the PWM signal is modifiedduring a near field radio frequency communication.

According to an embodiment, the first unit draws the power necessary toits operation from a radio frequency field.

According to an embodiment, the second unit is exclusively powered bysaid device.

FIG. 1 illustrates a simplified block diagram of a system to whichembodiments which will be described apply as an example.

Such a system comprises an equipment 1 (APPLI) to be controlled or to beconfigured, depending on the application for which the system isintended, a device 2 equipped to transmit, in a near-field regime,control, configuration, or parameterizing data intended for equipment 1,and an interface 3 capable of converting the data received in anear-field regime from device 2 into data capable of being interpretedby equipment 1 to be controlled.

Equipment 1 to be controlled is, for example, an illumination device orcircuit comprising, for example, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), anelectric motor, a linear motor or a stepping motor, a fluid circulationcontrol valve, a servomotor, and/or more generally any equipment capableof being controlled, directly or indirectly, by an electrical signal.

Device 2 is, for example, a control device such as a smart phoneequipped with an NFC controller, an NFC reader dedicated to theapplication, and more generally any device (generally called reader orterminal) equipped with a circuit of generation and of modulation of anear-field communication radio frequency field intended for anelectronic tag, preferably a circuit compatible with standard ISO/IEC15693, or with standard ISO/IEC 14443. Reference is made to acronym NFCto designate near-field communications, but this does not necessarilymean according to the NFC-Forum. Indeed, the described embodiments aremore generally compatible with radio frequency communications, currentlycalled RFID or NFC.

In the applications targeted by the present disclosure, interface 3 isintended to store control or configuration data sent to equipment 1 tobe controlled, for example, on request, typically when the applicationequipment is powered on or turned on or initialized. Thus, interface 3is equipped with a memory of non-volatile storage of control orconfiguration data intended for equipment 1.

An easy solution is to provide, in interface 3, an electronic tag formedof an NFC controller associated with a reprogrammable non-volatilememory for storing the control and configuration data, and amicrocontroller or microprocessor generating electric signals forcontrolling equipment 1 based on data read from the memory of theelectronic tag. However, such a solution is particularly expensive andrequires for the microcontroller to be programmed in order to managecommunications with the electronic tag.

According to the described embodiments, it is provided to take advantageof the fact that, in the targeted systems, equipment 1 to be controlleddoes not need to communicate with device 2, that is, to send data todevice 2. Equipment 1 just extracts data of configuration and of controlof interface 3. In other words, the communication is unidirectional fromdevice 2 to equipment 1 to be controlled.

Thus, interface 3 comprises an antenna 32 (in dotted lines in FIG. 1)and a interface circuit 4 (also in dotted lines in FIG. 1), which may bean integrated circuit (IC), for example, capable of communicating innear-field with device 2 and of supplying the electric control signalsto the application, and thus to equipment 1. In the example shown inFIG. 1, interface 3 is housed in a package 34, different from the deviceto be controlled. However, according to the application, interface 3 maybe housed in a package or an enclosure of equipment 1 to be controlled.

A difficulty however is that interface 3 should exchange with device 2,if only to be correctly identified by said device and confirm thecorrect reception of the received data. Further, interface 3 should beable to be triggered by equipment 1 to be controlled in order to supplythe stored data. Now, the memory of storage of the control data cannotbe accessed by device 2 and be read by equipment 1 at the same time.

FIG. 2 illustrates a simplified block diagram of an example interfacecircuit and surrounding environment.

According to this embodiment, interface circuit 4 (IC, RFID+PWM),forming, with antenna 32, interface 3, comprises: two terminals 41 and42 of connection of antenna 32; two terminals 43 and 44 intended toreceive a DC power supply voltage Vcc, one (44) of the two terminalsdefining a reference potential, typically, the ground; and a terminal 45intended to supply a signal in pulse width modulation (PWM) to a controlcircuit 12 (CTRL) of equipment 1.

In the shown example, a plurality of terminals 45 supply equipment 1with a plurality of pulse-width modulated signals. The number of signalsdepends on the application and different examples will be illustratedhereafter.

Control circuit 12, included in equipment 1, has the function ofinterpreting the PWM signals received from interface circuit 4 tocontrol an electrical device 14 (DEV) of the equipment 1 (a lamp, amotor, etc.). Preferably, the DC voltage Vcc applied between terminals43 and 44 is supplied by (or under control of) control circuit 12. Thisenables, as will be seen hereafter, triggering of a reading of the datastored in interface circuit 4 with no additional control signal.Generally, control circuit 12 does not non-volatilely store the datathat it receives from interface circuit 4, but only comprises volatilestorage circuits (for example, flip-flops or registers) and should thusreceive, at each powering on or resetting, the PWM signal(s) generatedby interface circuit 4.

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a block diagram of an example interfacecircuit in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

The representation of FIG. 3 is functional. In practice, all theelements may be made in integrated form in a same chip. Further, forsimplification, the signals powering the different components ofinterface circuit 4 are not illustrated in FIG. 3. The power supplysignals are however discussed hereafter.

Interface circuit 4 comprises a memory 5, for example, a reprogrammablenon-volatile memory such as an EEPROM or a flash memory; an NFC circuit6 (RFID); a PWM signal generation circuit 7 (e.g. a logic circuit)generating PWM signals from digital reference words contained in memory5, a memory assignment circuit 8 (ARBITER), a logic circuit, forexample, for allocating memory 5 to one or the other of circuits (e.g.the NFC circuit 6 or the PWM signal generation circuit 7); and a PWMconfiguration circuit 92 (PWM CONFIG), a logic circuit, for example, forconfiguring PWM signal generation circuit 7.

Interface circuit 4, shown in FIG. 3, also comprises, among others: oneor a plurality of amplifiers 72 of the PWM signals generated by PWMsignal generation circuit 7, the outputs of amplifiers 72 being coupled,preferably connected, to terminals 45; and an oscillator 74 (OSC) forgenerating a sequencing signal for PWM signal generation circuit 7.

In practice, PWM signal generation circuit 7 is formed of an assembly ofcounters, sequenced by oscillator 74 and controlled by PWM configurationcircuit 92 based on words read by the latter from memory 5. Thegeneration of PWM signals based on digital words for parameterizingthese signals is usual per se.

NFC circuit 6 is coupled, preferably connected, to terminals 41 and 42.NFC circuit 6 forms the NFC interface of interface circuit 4. NFCcircuit 6 has, among others, the function of: detecting a radiofrequency field where interface circuit 4 is located; extracting fromthis field a voltage for powering at least memory 5, NFC circuit 6, andmemory assignment circuit 8 when no voltage is applied between terminals43 and 45; demodulating data present on the radio frequency signaltransmitted by device 2 (FIGS. 1 and 2) and sending back to device 2data contained in the memory, such as for example the identifier ofinterface circuit 4, or sending at least some of the data to memory 5for their storage; and generating signals of retromodulation (preferablyby passive load modulation) of the field where interface 3 is located.

The data stored in memory 5 are, among others: radio frequencyconfiguration data and in particular an identifier of interface circuit4 to enable a reader to determine that it effectively communicates withthe desired application; data relative to the coding of the PWMsignal(s), among which the frequencies, the duty cycles, and the phaseratios of the PWM signals; and system or user data linked to theapplication.

Memory 5 is only read by PWM configuration circuit 92 each time theinterface circuit 4 is booted, which is triggered by the presence of aDC power supply voltage originating from the application, and is notread between two of said boot or initialization operations. Memory 5 isread by NFC circuit 6, at each boot operation, be it caused by thepresence of a DC voltage originating from the application or during anactivation by the radio frequency field. In the presence of anactivation by the radio frequency field, data of configuration of theradio frequency communication with NFC circuit 6 as well as, forexample, the single identifier of interface circuit 4, are extractedfrom memory 5. Memory 5 is only written into by NFC circuit 6.

According to the described embodiments, NFC circuit 6, PWM signalgeneration circuit 7, and PWM configuration circuit 92 are statemachines in wired logic, that is, are not programmable (they contain noregisters), but are formed of flip flops and of combinatory logicfunctions (OR, AND, etc.). For example, wired logic can be implementedusing only passive components such as diodes and/or resistors.

In the described embodiments, memory 5 is only read by the applicationat the booting of or on application of voltage Vcc to interface circuit4. Further, the memory is only programmed by NFC circuit 6.

According to a preferred embodiment, to authorize a modification of thePWM signals without requiring rebooting of the interface circuit 4, PWMconfiguration circuit 92 receives (connection in dotted lines in FIG. 3)from NFC circuit 6 the words that the circuit writes into memory 5.Preferably, PWM configuration circuit 92 only modifies the PWM signals(PWM signal generation circuit 7) once the writing into memory 5 hasended to guarantee that the configuration (the PWM signals) is the sameat the next reboot. As a variation, the PWM signals are modified inparallel with the writing into the memory for applications where it isaccepted to return to the previous configuration in the case where thewriting into memory 5 fails.

As previously mentioned, any conflict of access to memory 5 should beavoided. This function is ensured by memory assignment circuit 8 whicharbitrates accesses to the memory.

According to the described embodiments, such an arbitration isadvantageously performed by detecting where the power first originatedfrom and by giving priority to the corresponding side (RFID or PWM).

This is a particularly simple solution since a multiple situations aredirectly settled according to whether such or such circuit is powered ornot.

FIG. 4 schematically and functionally illustrates power sources ofdifferent components of an interface circuit.

A power supply voltage may either originate from the electromagneticfield generated by the device (2, FIGS. 1 and 2), or from the equipment(1, FIG. 1).

Schematically, terminals 41 and 42 are coupled, by rectifying elements(diodes D), to a regulator 62 (REG), a capacitive element C coupling thecathodes of the diodes to ground (terminal 44). Regulator 62 may be asimple limiter or a more advanced regulator. An output of regulator 62powers, in the presence of a radio frequency field, NFC circuit 6,memory 5, and memory assignment circuit 8. The output of regulator 62 iscontrollable by a switch K (e.g. a normally-on switch). Switch K isdriven (turned off) when a voltage Vcc is present between terminals 43and 44. A regulator 46 such as a linear regulator, for example, a lowdrop-out regulator (LDO), powers, in the presence of a voltage Vcc, allthe components of interface circuit 4 with a voltage V46 and turns offswitch K.

Thus, it can already been seen that the generation of the PWM signalsand the reading from the memory by PWM configuration circuit 92 can onlyoccur when a voltage is present between terminals 43 and 44. Further,the generation of the PWM signals is only present while voltage Vcc ispresent.

However, on the side of NFC circuit 6, the latter is powered either bythe field, or by voltage Vcc.

Accordingly, if interface circuit 4 is booted (powered on) by thereception of a radio frequency signal, only NFC circuit 6 has access tothe memory in read or in write mode. If the circuit is booted (poweredon) by voltage Vcc, all circuits and components are powered.Accordingly, memory 5 is accessible by NFC circuit 6 and PWMconfiguration circuit 92 and an arbitration may be necessary, inparticular if a radio frequency field also appears. However, memory 5 ispreferably only read from by PWM configuration circuit 92 at thestarting of a power supply by the application. Accordingly, although thePWM signals are permanently supplied to the application by PWM signalgeneration circuit 7 in the presence of voltage Vcc, they are onlyinitialized by PWM configuration circuit 92 at the booting or on requestof NFC circuit 6.

The operation of memory assignment circuit 8 is functionally describedhereafter based on timing diagrams illustrating different situationswhich are likely to occur.

FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E, and 5F schematically illustrate example timingdiagrams of operating situations of the interface circuit.

The drawings particularly illustrate the operation of interface circuit4 at the booting in two non-conflicting cases according to which thebooting is performed in the presence of voltage Vcc only (left-handportion of the timing diagrams) and in the presence of voltage V62(originating from the field) only (right-hand portion of the timingdiagrams).

FIG. 5A shows an example of shape of voltage V46 output by regulator 46.FIG. 5B shows an example of shape of voltage V62 output by regulator 62.FIG. 5C shows the state of a signal BD (Boot Done) indicative of acomplete booting of interface circuit 4 (including booting of NFCcircuit 6, PWM signal generation circuit 7, and PWM configurationcircuit 92). FIG. 5D shows the state of a signal BFD (Boot Field Done)indicative of a booting of NFC circuit 6 under the effect of voltageV46. FIG. 5E shows the periods of access to memory 5 (EE). FIG. 5Fshows, in its left-hand portion, the state of a signal RFD (RF Disable)supplied by memory assignment circuit 8 to NFC circuit 6, fordeactivating the radio frequency functionality and, in its right-handportion, the state of a signal PWMD (PWM Disable) supplied by NFCcircuit 6 to PWM configuration circuit 92, for deactivating thefunctionality of reading the PWM data from the memory.

Memory assignment circuit 8 is powered both by voltage V46 and byvoltage V62, to be able to switch the states of signals BDF, BD, RFD,and PWMD in particular.

Boot means that the NFC circuit 6 or PWM configuration circuit 92 whichhas access to memory 5 in read mode has finished its operations on thememory.

In the left-hand portion of the timing diagrams, it is assumed thatvoltage Vcc is present between terminals 43 and 44 from a time t10. At asubsequent time t11, regulator 46 has started and supplies a voltagesufficient to power the circuits. In this configuration, from time t11,the memory (signal EE) is read from (R) to extract the PWM signalconfiguration data. The binary words read from the memory by PWMconfiguration circuit 92 enable to parameterize the counters of PWMsignal generation circuit 7 which will generate, with the clock signalof oscillator 74, the PWM signals intended for amplifiers 72. At a timet12 when the memory has been read and where the PWM signals are ready,it is considered that all circuits are ready (signal BD in the activestate). To avoid a conflict of access to the memory while the latter isbeing read from by PWM configuration circuit 92, memory assignmentcircuit 8 deactivates the radio frequency functions of interface circuit4 (signal RFD, FIG. 5F, in the high state) until time t12. Assuming thatno reader has presented itself to interface 3, when the application isoff and voltage Vcc disappears (time t13), regulator 46 is no longerpowered and signals BD and BFD return to their inactive state at asubsequent time t14 from which regulator 46 can no longer hold the powersupply voltage.

In the right-hand portion of the timing diagrams, it is assumed thatvoltage Vcc is not present between terminals 43 and 44, but that from atime t20, a radio frequency field is detected by antenna 32. At asubsequent time t21, voltage V62 (for example, regulated by regulator62) is sufficient to power NFC circuit 6, memory 5, and memoryassignment circuit 8. In such a configuration, from time t21, the memory(signal EE) is read from (R) to extract the radio frequencyconfiguration data. At a time t22 when the memory has been read, signalBFD indicative of a booting by the radio frequency voltage is activated.To avoid a conflict of access to memory 5 while the latter is being readfrom by NFC circuit 6, memory assignment circuit 8 deactivates (orprevents the activation of) PWM configuration circuit 92 (signal PWMD,FIG. 5F, in the high state) until time t22. It is assumed that at a timet33, NFC circuit 6 receives a memory access request REQ (read or writemode) originating from device 2. At time t33, memory assignment circuit8 deactivates (or prevents the activation of) PWM configuration circuit92 (signal PWMD in the high state) to avoid a conflict at the level ofmemory 5, and NFC circuit 6 can thus communicate with the memory. Oncethe access has ended (time t34), signal PWMD is switched to its idlestate. It is assumed that the application does not initialize thecircuit. Accordingly, at a time t24, subsequent to a time t23 when thefield disappears, the power supply voltage of memory 5, of NFC circuit6, and of memory assignment circuit 8, disappears and signal BFD returnsto the low state.

For simplification, time shifts due to signal propagations and toswitching have been neglected. In practice, it is ensured that there isno conflict, in particular at the level of the accesses to memory 5.

FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D, 6E, 6F, and 6G schematically illustrate exampletiming diagrams of other operating situations of the interface circuit.

These drawings particularly illustrate the operation of interfacecircuit 4 in the presence of a power supply conflict, that is, if theapplication supplies a voltage Vcc while the circuit is powered by afield (left-hand portion of the timing diagrams) or if a reader attemptsto program the memory while the circuit is powered by the application(right-hand portion of the timing diagrams). In the same way as forFIGS. 5A to 5F, the slight time shifts between switchings are neglected.

FIG. 6A shows an example of shape of voltage V46 (Vcc) supplied byregulator 46. FIG. 6B shows an example of shape of voltage V62 suppliedby regulator 62. FIG. 6C shows the state of signal BD (Boot Done)indicative of a complete booting of interface circuit 4 (includingbooting of NFC circuit 6, PWM signal generation circuit 7, and PWMconfiguration circuit 92). FIG. 6D shows the state of signal BFD (BootField Done) indicative of a booting of NFC circuit 6 under the effect ofvoltage V46. FIG. 6E shows the periods of access to memory 5 (EE). FIG.6F shows the state of signal RFD (RF Disable), supplied by memoryassignment circuit 8 to NFC circuit 6, for deactivating the radiofrequency functionality. FIG. 6G shows the state of signal PWMD ofdeactivation of PWM configuration circuit 92 for reading the PWMconfiguration from memory 5.

In the left-hand portion of the timing diagrams of FIGS. 6A to 6G, it isassumed that interface circuit 4 is powered and has started under theeffect of the radio frequency field and that the field is still present(state corresponding to that of the right-hand portion of FIGS. 5A to 5Fbetween times t22 and t23). Thus, voltage V62 is present, signal BFD isactive and signals BD, RFD, and PWMD are inactive. It is assumed that attime t30, the application supplies a voltage Vcc. As soon as regulator46 supplies a voltage V46 having a sufficient level (time t31), switch K(FIG. 4) is turned off and the general powering of interface circuit 4is provided by voltage V46. It is assumed that the field remainspresent, so that voltage V62 is still present (illustrated in dottedlines in FIG. 6B) but is not used. At time t31, the radio frequencyfunctionality is deactivated (signal RFD in the high state) so that NFCcircuit 6 can no longer read from or write into memory 5. From time t31,PWM configuration circuit 92 reads the PWM configuration from memory 5and configures PWM signal generation circuit 7. When this reading isended and PWM signal generation circuit 7 is configured (time t32),signal BD switches to the active state and signal RFD is deactivated, toenable the reader to perform a programming if need be.

It is assumed that the field remains present (signal BFD remains active)and that at a time t33, NFC circuit 6 receives a request for writinginto the memory originating from the reader. At time t33, memoryassignment circuit 8 deactivates PWM configuration circuit 92 to avoid aconflict at the level of memory 5 and NFC circuit 6 can thus communicatewith the memory. Once the writing is ended (time t34), the new PWMparameters have to be applied to the application. To achieve this, theconfiguration parameters are preferably updated in PWM configurationcircuit 92 directly by NFC circuit 6. Update MAJ92 (arrow in FIG. 6E)however only preferably intervenes at the end of a period of the PWMsignals, not shown in FIGS. 6A to 6G.

According to a variation, not shown, memory assignment circuit 8deactivates the radio frequency functionality at time t34 and causes anew reading, from the memory, of the configuration parameters by PWMconfiguration circuit 92.

Signals BD and BFD are respectively switched to their inactive state, asdiscussed in relation with FIGS. 5A to 5F, when voltage Vcc or the fielddisappears, which is not the case in the left-hand portion of FIGS. 6Ato 6G where it is considered that the field and voltage Vcc remainpresent.

In the right-hand portion of the timing diagrams of FIGS. 6A to 6G, itis assumed that interface circuit 4 is powered by the application(voltage Vcc) but is not in a radio frequency field (state correspondingto that of the left-hand portion of FIGS. 5A to 5F between times t12 andt13). This also amounts to considering that, at the end of the left-handportion of FIGS. 6A to 6G, the radio frequency field disappears but thatvoltage Vcc remains. Thus, voltage V46 is present, signal BD is activeand signals BFD, RFD, and PWMD are inactive. It is assumed that at atime t40, a reader applies a radio frequency field to modify theconfiguration of the PWM signals. Since NFC circuit 6 is alreadyinitialized by the presence of voltage V46, the presence of the fielddirectly triggers at time t40 the switching of signal BFD. As soon asthe request is demodulated by NFC circuit 6 (time t41), memoryassignment circuit 8 deactivates PWM configuration circuit 92 (signalPWMD active) and gives access to the memory to NFC circuit 6. Theoperation of writing by NFC circuit 6 (times t41 to t42), and then oftransfer (MAJ92) of the new parameters by NFC circuit 6 to PWMconfiguration circuit 92 to transfer them in PWM to the application issimilar to that described in the left-hand portion of FIGS. 6A to 6G. Inthe right-hand portion of the timing diagrams of FIGS. 6A to 6G, it isthen assumed that the field disappears at a time t44, causing theswitching to the low state of the signal BFD at a time t45.

The forming of memory assignment circuit 8 in the form of a statemachine in wired logic is particularly simple. Indeed, switching iscaused by the presence of voltages V62 and V46 as well as by the ends ofcycles of memory 5. It is thus easy to implement the differentfunctional situations discussed hereabove in relation with FIGS. 5A to5F and 6A to 6G.

An advantage of the described embodiments is that they enable todecrease the surface area occupied by the integrated circuit withrespect to the surface area necessary with a microprocessor ormicrocontroller.

Another advantage is that the embodiment in the form of state machinesin wired logic avoids risks of malfunctions due to program executionerrors, as would be the case with a microprocessor or microcontroller.

The fact of integrating, in a same chip, the RFID and PWM functionsrisks, in certain cases, generating a disturbance of the radio frequencysignals under the effect of the PWM signals. Indeed, the proximity ofNFC circuit 6 and PWM signal generation circuit 7 may result in that thePWM signals generate noise at the level of NFC circuit 6, which disturbsradio frequency transmissions-receptions.

Such a noise problem is not only present in the interface circuit 4 suchas described in relation with FIG. 3, but more generally in any systemwhere digital pulse trains (PWM) are capable of disturbing radiofrequency transmissions-receptions due to the proximity of the circuitsgenerating such respective signals. This may be the case, for example,for a microcontroller generating PWM signals and assembled close to anNFC controller or router, or also for two integrated circuitsrespectively dedicated to a generation of PWM signals and of radiofrequency near-field communication signals.

RFID signals which are located in a range of transmission carriers from10 to 20 MHz, typically in the order of 13.56 MHz with modulation orretromodulation carriers of several hundreds of kHz, typically in theorder of 847 kHz, in the order of 484 kHz or in the order of 423 kHz,are particularly sensitive to frequencies of several hundreds of kHz,generally used for PWM signals.

Thus, according to another aspect of the present disclosure, it isprovided to intervene, during RFID transmissions, on the generation ofthe PWM signals to reduce their impact (the noise).

In an interface circuit 4, such as described in FIG. 3, interfacecircuit 4 comprises an intervention circuit 94 introducing at least onecountermeasure to noise during radio frequency transmission-reception.Intervention circuit 94 receives, from NFC circuit 6, informationaccording to which a transmission is present and intervenes on one or aplurality of circuits, among PWM configuration circuit 92, PWM signalgeneration circuit 7, or amplifiers 72. The countermeasure(s) areapplied as soon as a request is received from a reader and until thetransmission is ended. This may correspond to the end of a response byinterface circuit 4 to device 2 or at the end of a request received fromdevice 2 if the latter calls for no response. A RFID circuit is capableof determining, on reception of a request, if the latter calls for aresponse or not and can thus trigger intervention circuit 94 and stop itonce the radio frequency transmission is ended.

More generally, according to this other aspect, a circuit introducingone or a plurality of countermeasures to noise is provided, in thecircuit generating PWM pulses or in a neighboring circuit.

An example applied to interface circuit 4 is described hereafter, butall that is described can be easily transposed to other circuits wheresimilar problems are posed. In particular, the case of the generation ofa single PWM signal is considered but all that is described applieswhatever the number of generated PWM signals.

For example, the possibility of selecting one or a plurality ofcountermeasures which are integrated in the circuit is provided ininterface circuit 4. Such a selection depends on the application and isdetermined, for example, in a phase of personalization of interfacecircuit 4.

FIGS. 7A and 7B schematically illustrate timing diagrams of a noisereduction method.

FIG. 7A illustrates the presence of a radio frequency communication COM.FIG. 7B illustrates an example of PWM signal.

According to this embodiment, it is provided to interrupt the PWMsignals during radio frequency transmission periods. Thus, between timest51 and t52, there is no transmission of PWM signals to the applicationusing these signals. Such an interruption suppresses the switching noiseof the PWM amplifier and thus any disturbance of the radio frequencysignals. The interruption of any PWM signal generally does not adverselyaffect the operation of the application since a RFID communicationgenerally lasts for less than a few milliseconds.

To interrupt the PWM signals, terminals 45 may be set to high impedance(outputs of amplifiers 72) during the transmission. Such animplementation requires a connection (in dotted lines in FIG. 3) ofintervention circuit 94 to amplifiers 72 to set their outputs to highimpedance.

As a variation, intervention circuit 94 intervenes on PWM signalgeneration circuit 7 to place the inputs that it receives from PWMconfiguration circuit 92 in a steady state interrupting the generationof PWM signals. Such a variation is possible since PWM configurationcircuit 92, if it only reads memory 5 at the booting, volatilely storesthe parameter in flip-flops and permanently sends them to PWM signalgeneration circuit 7.

FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C schematically illustrate timing diagrams of anotherimplementation of a noise reduction method.

FIG. 8A illustrates the presence of a radio frequency communication COM.FIG. 8B illustrates an example of PWM signal. FIG. 8C illustrates outputlevel L of amplifier 72.

According to this embodiment, the number of output stages used peramplifier 72 is decreased to increase the impedance of terminals 45 anddecrease the level of the switching noise. In a way, a variation of thepower of the PWM signals is performed according to whether one is or notin the presence of a radio frequency transmission. Advantage is heretaken from the fact that amplifiers 72 (e.g. output amplifiers) aregenerally provided with a plurality of output stages in parallel to becapable of outputting the signals with the required intensities.

Such an embodiment is compatible with applications where the PWM signalsare not desired to be totally interrupted.

FIGS. 9A and 9B schematically illustrate timing diagrams of stillanother implementation of a noise reduction method.

FIG. 9A illustrates the presence of a radio frequency communication COM.FIG. 9B illustrates an example of PWM signal.

According to this embodiment, it is provided to decrease, during radiofrequency communications, the frequency of the PWM signals, whilekeeping their duty cycle (or their phase relationship). Such a frequencydecrease enables to decrease the occurrences of communication noise andthus decreases the disturbances of radio frequency signals. As aspecific embodiment, for PWM signals at normal frequencies of severaltens of kHz, one may, between times t51 and t52, decrease the frequencyto a few kHz.

According to still another embodiment, it is provided to combine a powerdecrease (such as illustrated in FIGS. 8A to 8C) and a frequencydecrease (such as illustrated in FIGS. 9A and 9B).

The operation becomes normal again as soon as the radio frequencytransmission is ended. However, in the case of a frequency decrease, itwill be ascertained to preserve the duty cycle when the frequency isincreased back. Thus, the time (t53) from which the frequency becomesnormal again may be subsequent to end-of-communication time t52.

All or part of the countermeasures to noise may be provided in interfacecircuit 4.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a system forvarying the power of an electrical load by electric pulse-widthmodulated signals (PWM), with a near-field radio frequency control(RFID), is provided. Thus, a system comprising a RFID or NFC to PWMinterface is provided, such a system also comprising a near-fieldcommunication control device and PWM electric control equipment.Preferably, the interface is unidirectional, that is, it is intended forapplications where the equipment does not need to communicate, at leastvia the interface, with the control device.

Examples where the practical implementation is performed by an interface3 such as previously described are described hereafter. However, thedescribed embodiments can be easily transposed to other practicalembodiments respecting the described functionalities.

FIG. 10 schematically illustrates a block diagram of a system forvarying the power of an electrical load formed by an illuminationcircuit, the system implementing all or part of the describedembodiments. For example, the system of FIG. 10 may be a power dimmingsystem.

According to this embodiment, interface 3 is applied to the control of alight signal comprising one or a plurality of lamps 142 (for example,based on light-emitting diodes, or LEDs) to provide a dimmer function.In the example of FIG. 10, lamp 142 is capable of directly receiving aturn on/off and light intensity order in the form of a pulse-widthmodulated PWM signal. Lamp 142 (for example, the diode control circuitor driver) is then coupled, preferably connected, to a terminal 45 (e.g.an output) of interface circuit 4. Voltage Vcc enabling to power thereading from memory 5 and the generation of the PWM signal is, forexample, supplied by lamp 142. A plurality of PWM outputs such as theplurality of terminals 45 of interface circuit 4 may be used to controla plurality of lamp 142.

As compared with a solution with a resistive dimmer, the solutionprovided herein provides a better accuracy. As compared with a solutionwith a microcontroller, an advantage of the provided solution is a lowercost without losing accuracy and a lower power consumption. Further, theprovided PWM signal solution is compatible with turn-on functions in allor nothing (i.e. 1 or 0).

FIG. 10A partially shows a variation of the system of FIG. 10 accordingto which lamp 142′ needs an analog light intensity control signalVANALOG. It is then provided to interpose a low-pass filter 143 (RCFILTER), for example, a resistive and capacitive cell, to convert thePWM digital signal into an analog level.

FIG. 11 schematically illustrates a block diagram of another system forvarying the power of an electrical load formed of a DC electric motor,the system implementing all or part of the described embodiments.

According to this embodiment, interface 3 is applied to the control of amotor 144, for example, a DC drive motor Vengine such as shown or adirect PWM drive motor. Amplifiers 145 (buffers) also powered withvoltage Vcc then supplied at terminal 43 of interface circuit 4, may beinterposed (according to the current required for the motor).

An advantage of this solution is a great accuracy of control of themotor speed, compatible with a near-field communication control. Ascompared with a resistive solution, accuracy is gained and, as comparedwith a solution comprising a microcontroller, cost and power are saved.

According to other embodiments of power variation by RFID control ofelectric signals in PWM mode (not shown), the PWM signal controls asound volume variation, a programmed input/output controller, and moregenerally any equipment adapted to an electric control in powervariation.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a system ofcontrol, with near-field radio frequency signals (RFID), of a driver(servomotor), or an electrically-controlled stepping motor, is provided.Thus, a system comprising a RFID or NFC to PWM interface is provided,such a system also comprising a near-field communication control deviceand PWM electric control equipment. In the same way as for powervariation embodiments, such an interface is preferably unidirectional,that is, it is intended for applications where the equipment does notneed to communicate, at least via the interface, with the controldevice.

As for the previous aspect, examples according to which the practicalimplementation is performed by an interface 3 such as previouslydescribed are described hereafter. However, the described embodimentscan be easily transposed to other practical embodiments respecting thedescribed functionalities.

FIG. 12 schematically illustrates a block diagram of a system forcontrolling a stepping motor with PWM signals, the system implementingall or part of the described embodiments.

According to this embodiment, interface 3 is applied to the control of astepping motor 146. In this case, a plurality of PWM outputs such as theplurality of terminals 45 of interface circuit 4 are used and thegenerated PWM signals are also provided for a phase control. The numberof PWM signals used depends on the application and the control signalsrequired by stepping motor 146. Preferably, an amplification circuit 147(DRIV) is interposed between interface circuit 4 and motor 146.

An advantage of this solution is, in addition to all or part of theadvantages described in relation with the other applications, a low-costcontrol with a high accuracy.

FIG. 13 schematically illustrates a block diagram of still anothersystem of control by PWM signals of an electric actuator of servomotortype, the system implementing all or part of the described embodiments.

According to this embodiment, interface 3 is applied to the control of amechanical object 149 by a servomotor 148. The mechanical position ofthe servomotor depends on the duty cycle of the PWM signal. Advantage ishere taken from the fact of being able to perform, with an NFCinterface, a direct, accurate, and low-cost control. The controlledmechanical object 149 may be a valve, a lock, and more generally anyobjet usually controllable with a servomotor.

Various embodiments have been described. Various alterations,modifications, and improvements will readily occur to those skilled inthe art. In particular, the selection of the frequency of thepulse-width modulation signals may be different from one application toanother. Further, although, a preferred embodiment provides thegeneration of the PWM signals (PWM signal generation circuit 7 suppliesthe PWM signals) all along the time during which the circuit is powered(except for some of the described counter measures to noise), it may beprovided for the generation of the PWM signals to only occur at thebooting. Further, although PWM signal generation circuit 7 and PWMconfiguration circuit 92 have been described as being two differentcircuits, they may be one and the same circuit. Finally, the practicalimplementation of the embodiments which have been described is withinthe abilities of those skilled in the art based on the functionalindications given hereabove.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system comprising: a near-field communication(NFC) device configured to transmit an NFC communication comprising acontrol signal transmitted in a near-field regime; an interfacecomprising an NFC circuit configured to receive the NFC communication,and a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal generation circuit configuredto generate a PWM signal according to the control signal; and anelectrically-controllable equipment comprising a control circuitconfigured to trigger the PWM signal generation circuit to generate thePWM signal by providing direct current (DC) power to the PWM signalgeneration circuit, receive the PWM signal, and control theelectrically-controllable equipment using the PWM signal.
 2. The systemof claim 1, wherein the PWM signal varies power of an electrical load ofthe electrically-controllable equipment.
 3. The system of claim 1,wherein the electrically-controllable equipment is digitally controlledby the PWM signal.
 4. The system of claim 1, further comprising: alow-pass filter configured to convert the PWM signal to an analogsignal, wherein the electrically-controllable equipment is analogicallycontrolled by the analog signal.
 5. The system of claim 1, furthercomprising: a plurality of amplifiers configured to receive the PWMsignal from the interface and output an amplified PWM signal to theelectrically-controllable equipment.
 6. The system of claim 1, furthercomprising: an amplification circuit configured to output a plurality ofcontrol signals to the electrically-controllable equipment, wherein theinterface further comprises a plurality of PWM output terminals, whereinthe PWM signal generation circuit is further configured to generate aplurality of PWM signals, the plurality of PWM signals comprising thePWM signal, and to output the plurality of PWM signals at the PWM outputterminals to the amplification circuit, and wherein theelectrically-controllable equipment comprises a stepping motor.
 7. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the electrically-controllable equipmentcomprises a servomotor, wherein a mechanical position of the servomotordepends on a duty cycle of the PWM signal.
 8. The system of claim 1,wherein the electrically-controllable equipment further comprises and anillumination circuit configured to be controlled by the control circuit.9. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrically-controllableequipment comprises a DC motor.
 10. The system of claim 1, wherein theNFC circuit is configured to draw power for operation from the controlsignal.
 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the PWM signal generationcircuit is configured to draw power exclusively from theelectrically-controllable equipment.
 12. A method of controllingelectrical equipment, the method comprising: receiving, by a near-fieldcommunication (NFC) circuit, an NFC communication comprising a controlsignal transmitted in a near-field regime; providing, by a controlcircuit, direct current (DC) power to a pulse width modulation (PWM)signal generation circuit; generating, by the PWM signal generationcircuit, a PWM signal according to the control signal, the DC powertriggering the PWM signal generation circuit to generate the PWM signal;receiving the PWM signal by the control circuit; and controlling, by thecontrol circuit, an electrically-controllable equipment using the PWMsignal.
 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising: varying power ofan electrical load using the PWM signal.
 14. The method of claim 12,wherein controlling the electrically-controllable equipment comprisesdigitally controlling the electrically-controllable equipment using thePWM signal.
 15. The method of claim 12, further comprising: filtering,by a low-pass filter, the PWM signal to generate an analog signal,wherein controlling the electrically-controllable equipment comprisesanalogically controlling the electrically-controllable equipment usingthe analog signal.
 16. The method of claim 12, further comprising:extracting RF power from the control signal; and supplying the RF powerto the NFC circuit.
 17. The method of claim 12, further comprising:switching off a normally-on switch using the DC power; and supplying theDC power to both the NFC circuit, and the PWM signal generation circuit.18. An integrated circuit (IC) chip comprising: a near-fieldcommunication (NFC) circuit configured to receive an NFC communicationcomprising a control signal transmitted in a near-field regime; a pulsewidth modulation (PWM) signal generation circuit implemented using wiredlogic and coupled to the NFC circuit, the PWM signal generation circuitbeing configured to generate a PWM signal according to the controlsignal in response to receiving direct current (DC) power; and an outputterminal coupled to the PWM signal generation circuit and configured tooutput the PWM signal.
 19. The IC chip of claim 18, wherein the NFCcircuit is configured to draw power for operation from the controlsignal.
 20. The IC chip of claim 18, further comprising: a power inputterminal coupled to the NFC circuit and the PWM signal generationcircuit, the DC power being received at the power input terminal,wherein the PWM signal generation circuit is configured to draw powerexclusively from the power input terminal.